Count Basie Orchestra still alive and well

Friday featured one of the oldest and finest big bands in existence at the IU Auditorium: the Count Basie Orchestra.\nIt might be incredible to imagine that this big band, first devised by Count Basie in 1936, is still going strong today. Many band members have come and gone through the years, but there are still members playing today who actually played with Count Basie, namely Clarence Banks on trombone, John Williams on baritone saxophone, Butch Miles on drums and James Leary on bass.\nConductor and bass trombonist Bill Hughes is one member who has been with the Count Basie Orchestra since 1953. Hughes has had some fun with his many years in the band and stated during the show. \n"There have been many different players through the years because nobody can go that long, except me," Hughes said.\nThe younger players currently call him Mr. B because of all the years he has spent in the Count Basie Orchestra.\nThe Orchestra has won countless awards through the years and continues to play great jazz music for many adoring fans. Doug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium, said the orchestra's fame excited the Auditorium about playing host to its show.\n"Big band programs have been requested for the last couple of years, so when we had the opportunity to bring in Count Basie Orchestra, we jumped at it," he said. "The Count Basie Orchestra is one of the oldest and best big bands in existence."\nThe Count Basie Orchestra and its music have spanned decades and are attracting older and newer generations of fans all the time. One person who knows this band's music very well, along with some of its current members, is David Baker, distinguished professor of music and chairman of the jazz department. Baker said he and Hughes go way back and shared a story about Hughes' first concert with the orchestra in 1953.\n"They were missing a trombone player and (Hughes) was hoping to have the chance to fill in, but unfortunately it didn't happen that night," Baker said.\nAnother link Baker has to the Count Basie Orchestra is that one of his former band members had the chance to play with the ensemble. Derrick Gardner played with Baker's band, then played trumpet for the Count Basie Orchestra for two years.\nClassic Count Basie tunes were relived along with newer material, but both displayed that the Count Basie Orchestra and its legend will not quit.\nIn Booher's words: "Countless awards and millions of adoring fans create a record of undeniable quality and musicianship for this ensemble"